Contents

Summary

Did you know?

The species name, tenuiflora, means slender-flowered. The most obvious distinguishing characterstic of the species is the three small spikes bunched closely together at the end of the slender stem.

State Ranking Justification

There are four known occurrences and relatively few historical occurrences of this species, so it may have always been somewhat rare in the state. The ecological reasons for its rarity are unclear. While this species is near the southern limit of its range in New York, it occupies habitat similar to that of many more common sedges. It is also a species of concern in the state of Maine.

Short-term Trends

Two of the three known existing locations are recently-rediscovered historical occurrences. Their population trends will be revealed by monitoring in the years to come.

Long-term Trends

Based on the scant historical record, this sedge may never have been common in New York. Additional inventory at known historical locations is needed to determine long-term trends.

Conservation and Management

Threats

This sedge has typically been found in somewhat rich, saturated soils in conifer or shrub swamps. Disturbances which change the hydrologic regimes could threaten the survival of this species. Herbivory is another potential threat.

Conservation Strategies and Management Practices

The wetlands which provide habitat for this species should be protected from changes in water quality or hydrologic regime.

Research Needs

Reseach is needed to determine the habitat requirements and complete distribution of this species in New York.

Habitat

Habitat

In New York this species grows in saturated (and typically, rich) peatland soils. It is known from cedar swamps, rich shrub fens, and shrub swamps (New York Natural Heritage Program 2007). Sphagnum bogs, bog forests, and peaty shores (Voss 1972). Wet woods and bogs (Gleason and Cronquist 1991).

Range

New York State Distribution

Carex tenuiflora is found in northern New York, chiefly in the Adirondacks, the Tug Hill Plateau and the St. Lawrence and Black River Valleys. There is also a single historical record from Erie County in western New York.

Global Distribution

Carex tenuiflora has a circumboreal distribution, in North America extending south to the northern tier of the United States, including Washington and Montana (and disjunct to Colorado), and from Minnesota to Maine in the northeast.

Best Places to See

Bonaparte Swamp (Lewis County)

Identification Comments

General Description

Thin-flowered sedge forms loose clumps with slender, 15 to 60 cm high stems, arising from creeping rhizomes. The leaves are ca. 1 mm wide. Flowers are borne in 2-4 small spikelets, held upright and grouped together in a cluster at the top of the stem. A few male flowers (recognized by the old stamens) occur at the base of each spike. The whitish, papery scales have a green center, and are as long as the perigynia that they subtend. The pale green, narrowly elliptic perigynia are ca. 3 mm long and tapered, but beakless. There are 2 styles and the seed achene is lens-shaped.

Best Life Stage for Proper Identification

For positive identification specimens with mature perigynia are needed.

Similar Species

In vegetative form this species is very similar to Carex disperma and C. trisperma, with which it may grow, but the spikes of C. tenuiflora are crowded together while those of the preceding two species are well-separated. Carex heleonastes, which is found in the same calcareous wetland habitat as C. tenuiflora, has brownish scales and distinctly beaked perigynia. The other Carex species in section Heleonastes found in New York either are found in brackish habitats (C. glareosa) and/or have beaked perigynia.with subtending scales shorter than the perigynia.

The form and spikelets of Carex interior, in the Stellulatae group, are similar to those of Carex tenuiflora, but C. interior has minutely-beaked perigynia not visible beneath their slender scales.

Best Time to See

In New York state most collections of Carex tenuiflora have been made in late June, with mature fruit present.

Fruiting

The time of year you would expect to find Sparse-flowered Sedge fruiting in New York.

Other References

Holmgren, Noel. 1998. The Illustrated Companion to Gleason and Cronquist's Manual. Illustrations of the Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York.

House, Homer D. 1924. Annotated list of the ferns and flowering plants of New York State. New York State Museum Bulletin 254:1-758.

New York Natural Heritage Program. 2010. Biotics database. New York Natural Heritage Program. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Albany, NY.

New York Natural Heritage Program. 2019. New York Natural Heritage Program Databases. Albany, NY.